Weichai Power seeks foothold in new energy powertrain industry

Weichai Power, a Weifang-based developer of engines, transmissions, and axles and producer of heavy vehicles and automobile electronics and parts, signed strategic cooperation agreements with Germany’s Aradex AG and Austria’s VDS Holding GmbH on Jan 15 in Jinan, capital of Shandong province.

Weichai Power acquired an 80 percent stake in Aradex and plans to acquire a 51 percent stake in VDS, making the company the controlling shareholder of both companies.

Weichai Power signs strategic cooperation agreements with Germany’s Aradex AG and Austria’s VDS Holding GmbH on Jan 15 in Jinan, capital of Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

According to Weichai Power, the two investments will improve China’s electric motor control systems for new energy powertrains and agricultural equipment CVT powertrain systems and accelerate the industrialization of Weichai Power’s new business.

Founded in 1989, Aradex focuses on the research and development of electric motors, control systems, and energy storage for industry and transportation. The company has become a pioneer in high performance variable frequency and power supply equipment technology.

Weichai Power’s investment in Aradex is yet another attempt by the company to gain a foothold in the new energy powertrain system industry, following its investments in Canada’s Ballard Power and the UK’s Ceres Power.

The company has not only managed to master core technology for traditional powertrains for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, but has also acquired key technology for electronic control systems and successfully built an integrated “battery, electric motor, and electronic control” system.

Tan Xuguang, chairman of Weichai Power, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

VDS is a technology development company specializing in powertrain systems for vehicles. It has developed a wide range of products, including hydraulic and automatic transmissions that are widely used in tractors, loaders, municipal vehicles, new energy buses, and more.

Weichai Power and VDS will work together to overcome China’s weakness in hydraulic transmission technology, control core technology of CVT powertrain systems for agricultural equipment, and improve China’s ability to manufacture CVT powertrain systems.